I had a SBH hunter bisley I sold because the trigger guard kept whacking my knuckle, but after trying several other guns it seems I will have that problem with most revolvers. I normally hunt antelope and deer but I got invited to go hog hunting in Texas this winter with a coworker so I need to get a new gun soon. I am setup to reload 44 mag and have plenty of brass and ammo, but I really like the 45lc and every gun store around has them where the 44's are harder to find. But I also know a guy selling a 460xvr with about 20rds through it, a scope, holster, and 200rds of ammo for $1200. I really like the +/- 5" barrel 44's and 45's, the 10" 460 just seems like it would be more work to tote around? So my question is for hog, deer, antelope etc should I save money and get a 44, spend a little more getting reloading supplies and get a 45lc, or should I go for the 460 where I can shoot 460, 45lc, 454? Thanks for any insight on this.

If it was my money I would get a 4" Ruger Redhawk in 44or45 and then find a used Contender single in something like 7mm08 for shooting the longer ranges. Price on two should be about equal as the S&W

The Contender doesn't come in 7mm08, you have to step up to the Encore for the heavier cartridges. I agree with Seak, get a short barrel revolver for short work and an Encore or bolt action for long range work. It's always fun spending other people's money.😊

My 2 most used hunting guns are a Contender 358JDJ and a Redhawk 44 Magnum. The 460 S&W will do just about everything but it is a massive beast. You could start with a Redhawk with removable scope mounts and add an Encore or Contender later. I like my 7.5 inch Redhawk for a primary hunting gun over the shorter barrels.

First, welcome to HH!
A 44 Mag or a 45 LC will do about anything you for all of the above.
I have learned that the Ruger has a stronger lock-up than your S&W's do (This does not include the X-Frame like you are considering).
I do not think you need a XVR for what you are considering.
It is a huge revolver.
The Redhawk or Super Redhawk will work fine with the RH being smaller.
I am selling my SRH, but it has a 7.5 inch barrel.

Opinions on buying guns....it is sure fun to spend someone else's money.

From a practicality standpoint, you are already set up for 44mag so I would probably stick to that caliber, just for the fact that you have all of the "stuff"
The 45 lc is a great cartridge but there really isn't that much difference between that and the 44M. Certainly not enough to warrant abandoning your existing 44 setup. Both are 100-120 yard calibers out of a pistol, and when loaded to their potential both are in the same neighborhood with respect to penetration, energy and recoil.

The 460....cool cartridge, but way too big a gun IMHO. If you are going to carry that weight around, the Encore or one of the other single shot rifle variants is a better option, and we haven't even discussed the massive muzzle blast....don't even think of firing that thing from inside a box blind....I don't care what type of hearing protection you have, it will still be very loud.

A 5 1/2" 44M Redhawk is awesome hog medicine. Loaded up with a 300ish gr WFN hard cast bullet and a case full of H110 there isn't a hog on earth that would stop that bullet. The only downside is that I find my 5 1/2" gun to be around a 30-40 yard gun under field conditions.

That said, if I was going to purchase one gun for a "do it all" type hunting revolver, it would be either a Super Blackhawk Hunter (like you got rid of) a Super Redhawk or a Standard Redhawk in 44mag. The 7 1/2" tube will give you a bit more sight radius and extend your range out a bit more than a 5 1/2" barrel. You also get the scope mounts which will allow you put a red dot or scope up top without the need to visit your local gunsmith.
Put a 7 1/2" gun in either a chest rig like a 7X Leather rig or a Ringler Wyoming Combo Hunter and it is not burdensome to carry around, even with an optic mounted up top.

I like the 44 mag and the 45 Colt!
Switching to 45 Colt is not very expensive using the same powder and primers. The 45 is fun to reload. Wear leather gloves and lower the power level until it stops hurting. I'm sure you'll still have lots of hunting power left.
I really like 5.5" Bisleys. You can buy that in a stainless 45 Colt or have one made in a blue 44 mag by sending it off for a barrel trim, better front sight and an action job.

I have a .460 in an Encore, and like it very much at this point. It is a bit of overkill but nice when you want to drop a coyote at 238 yards (oh, the joy it brings).

I have been trying to decide between a revolver in .45 LC or a .454 Casull myself but I'm leaning towards the 7.5" barrel length. I'm sure the .45 LC will do everything I need for hogs and deer but the Tim "Toolman" Taylor philosophy lies strong in me; "More power".

I vote for the 45 Colt and the 460. But the 460 in a T/C platform only. If you're gonna go with the 460, do it right (IMHO), and make it a single shot platform that will utilize the full potential of the round. For me, I went with the Pro Hunter frame from TC, put a 14" MGM barrel on it, and mounted a scope on it. 460's are NOT for close range. Yeah, they work and get the job done, but there is SOOOOO much more to them. Milk jugs at 200 yards are a piece of cake. No challenge at all. You wanna hunt goats on a regular basis, I'd say get a 460 setup, but not a revolver. You won't be shooting successive shots rapidly in a 460 anyway! I had an XVR, and I'm glad I sold it and went with the T/C version. Much more accurate at long range, at least for me.

If goats are just now and then, I'd go with the 45 Colt. However, like was said earlier, you already have the 44Mag stuff, so that works too.

JB, if ya want "more power", ya might ask Whitworth about his 50 Alaskan!

"JB, if ya want "more power", ya might ask Whitworth about his 50 Alaskan! "

I don't need to go there. I really don't need to go there. Lol.

I haven't shot a 45lc but I was curious about it after comparing the ballistics, I had also heard that due to the lower pressure that in equal loads the 45lc had less felt recoil that's why I was thinking about it, that and the frame size of the 45's. The 460 would be fun but I don't see it being a fun all around gun? I may pick up a 44 and a 45 and pass on the 460.

I shoot both in the same model revolver and I can't tell any difference in recoil when loaded to the same performance. The blast may be a little less in the 45 Colt.
I think the 45 Colt is better only if you're trying to shoot heavy loads with heavy bullets - over 300 grain. In fact, I think the 44 Mag is better if you're happy with 240 grains.

As a fan of the .45 line from .45 S&W/Schofield to now the .460 I find that they have much to offer the hand loader with the .460 a quite versatile although not necessarily efficient round. I have the S&W revolver with 8 3/8 barrel and an Ultra Dot 30 which can be loaded to do most anything. It is large, heavy, requires a shooting support (for me anyway), and is one of the loudest handguns I have ever encountered. It is also accurate and has relatively little recoil. That being said it probably would not be the all purpose/ single gun and in addition to the T/C line a more traditional sized .460 revolver is available from BFR.

The .44 meets the needs of many and with all the supplies on hand that would seem to make the most cents....recognizing that often these decisions have little to do with sense. What a happy dilemma.

Haha thanks for the help guys. I passed on the 460, I think the 44 will fit the bill. I am going to order a couple more molds like a 250 Keith and 310gc just to round off the collection and call it good.

Cool!
Keep us updated with what you decide in terms of barrel length and such.